Ball type applicators



March 29, 1960 J. 5. REIMANN 2,930,062

BALL TYPE APPLICATORS Filed Dec. 3, 1958 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH S. REIMANN A GENT BALL TYPE APPLICATORS Joseph S. Reimann, West Orange, N.J., assignor to Triglhem, Inc., West Orange, N.J., a corporation of New ersey Application December 3, 1958, Serial No. 777,896

1 Claim. (Cl. 15-132.7)

This invention relates to ball applicators adapted for attachment to tube-like containers of marking liquidsfor example, waterproof paint of a paste-like consistencyso1d in various colors for painting designs on textiles, laundry marking and making identifieations on glass, metal, wood, paper, plastic and all other types of surfaces where decoration or identification is desired. The containers are typically in the form of flexible tubes which can be compressed or collapsed as the paints are used up. To apply a thin line of paint it is only necessary to hold the tube verticaly and roll the ball tip over the surface to be painted. a

Ball applicators for these marking liquids must be made very precisely so that (1) they will be leak proof during handling and storage of the containers, (2) the applicator balls will yield to light pressure and roll evenly to dispense a thin uniform line of paint as the tips of the applicators are moved across a chosen surface, and (3) the applicators will be dependable and free of wear.

Objects of my invention are to provide improved ball applicators for marking liquids wherein the aforestated objectives are attained.

Another object is to provide ball type applicators which permit interchangeability of several sizes of ball tips on a single container.

A further object is to provide a novel design of such applicator having a hardened metal lip around the ball valve to resist abrasion when the applicator is used on coarse hard surfaces such as stone, metal castings, etc.

A further object is to provide such improved ball applicator which has an improved mechanical design adapted for economical production.

These and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claim.

In the description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure l is a side view of a container for marking liquids showing a ball applicator according to my invention attached thereto;

Figure 2 is an axial section view to enlarged scale of a ball applicator according to my invention showing the mechanical construction thereof; and

Figure 3 is an inner end view of the ball applicator also to enlarged scale.

With reference to Figure 1 there is shown a tube container for marking liquids, which is typically of a soft metal rendering it collapsible by pressure of the hand. The container has an externally threaded neck 11 at one end provided with a dispensing orifice 12. In butt joint relation to the end face of the neck 11 is my improved ball applicator 13. The applicator is held in place by an internally threaded collar 14 provided with a flanged end which embraces the body of the applicator and presses against an end flange 15 thereof to clamp the applicator in sealed relation to the neck as the collar is threaded thereon.

As shown in Figure 2, the applicator 13 comprises a States Patent "ice tubular body 16 in the form of a nipple having the flange 15 at its inner end and having a taper 17 at its outer end. The nipple is provided with a central dispensing orifice 18 which is stepped about midway its length to a larger diameter portion leading through the outer end thereof and formed as by counterboring. Fitted into this larger diameter portion of the orifice 18 is a ball valve of selected size comprising a tube 19 which projects beyond the nipple. The tube has a central orifice 20 equal in diameter to the orifice 18 of the nipple so that there will be an opening of substantially uniform diameter running axially through the applicator.

The outer end of the tube 19 is tapered and provided with an inwardly extending lip 21 forming a circular valve seat for a ball 22 within the tube. V The tube and ball are precision made of hardened metal such as of chrome alloy steel so that they engage precisely to form a positive seal when the ball is pressed outwardly under influence of a helical compression spring 23 fitting the dispensing orifice of the applicator. This spring is preferably made of beryllium copper. v

In order that the hardened tube 19 can be press fitted into the enlarged diameter portion of the orifice 18 of the nipple the latter is made of a relatively soft metal such as of brass or aluminum. The use of such relatively soft metal affords a second and important advantage in that it permits the compression spring 23 to be installed in the nipple after the hardened tubular tip 19 has been pressed into place and the spring to be then locked in the orifice by holding it in a compressed stateand performing a simple staking operation on the inner end of the nipple. For example, by a simple staking tool driven against the "inner end face of the nipple in a diametrical relationship with the orifice, metal from opposite sides of the orifice is crimped over to form abutments 24 which confine the spring within the orifice. Although these abutments securely lock the spring in place they form only a very minor restriction to flow of paint or other marking liquid from the container into the orifice of the ball applicator.

In using the present ball applicators the tip is pressed against the surface to be marked, retracting the ball and allowing the marking liquid to flow over the valve lip acting as a pen. Since these applicators are used on all kinds of surfaces including coarse hard abrasive surfaces such as stone, it is important that the valve lip be made of hardened metal alloy to withstand wear else the valves will leak. The present composite construction permits the advantages of a soft metal base and hardened metal tip above described, and permits also the advantage that tips of dilferent sizes can be mounted in the same size of base for selective attachment to a single container.

As will appear from the foregoing description, features of mechanical design herein employed provide for a very economical production of a precision form of ball applicator for the purpose intended. The scope of my inven tion I endeavor to express according to the following claim:

I claim:

A ball-type applicator for a container of paste-like waterproof paint, comprising a nipple having a base end adapted for attachment to said container and'having a tapered portion at the other end, said nipple being made of soft metal and having an axial dispensing orifice provided with a counterbore at the tapered end portion of the nipple, a tubular insert of hardened metal press-fitted into said counterbore and extending beyond the tapered end of the nipple, said tubular insert having a dispensingorifice forming a uniform extension of the orifice of said nipple and provided with an inwardly extending lip at its outer end forming a circular seat, a ball of hardened metal in said insert, a helical compression spring in said orifices conforming to the walls thereof for yieldably pressing References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Krannak Apr. 12, 1938 Huenergardt Aug. 26, 1947 Barry Sept. 30, 1952 Pepin July 7, 1953 hrs" 

